Skylar's Guardians (25 page)

“You would have had to get the supervising mentor to assist. You did not. Instead, you pushed her to the floor.”

“And she sat on me!”

“Lower your voice, Skylar. She discontinued your attack, which is the reason she only suffered a reprimand and not separation.”

“Separation? That didn’t warrant death!” Skylar looked panicked.

“Relax, child. Separation is a punishment we use on podlings to teach them the pain of being alone. After once or twice, they will do anything to avoid it. You, however, do not respond to that in the same manner, do you?”

“The boys ground me to my room sometimes when I act up at home,” Skylar admitted, facing the floor and digging her toe into the carpet.

“I am certain they will do so for this as well. I contacted Tralec and told him what had occurred, including your profanity.”

“He didn’t even know that was profanity until he learned about it in my books,” Skylar scoffed. “And she was breaking my back.”

“He instructed me to discipline you, Skylar,” Leeza said, her voice unwavering and strong.

“D… discipline me?”

“He told me to spank you until your bottom was the color of the winter sun.”

Skylar paled, knowing that she was describing the deepest shade of red imaginable. Tears sprung to Skylar’s eyes. “Aunt Leeza, please listen. I’m sorry I overreacted and knocked her down. You have no idea how much being spanked hurts! You can really harm me if you strike the wrong area because I’m so small compared to you…”

“Leannz and I have been studying your manuals and moving images. The task is not particularly complicated, and it will not be difficult to gauge your reaction. One warning, though, darling.” Leeza looked serious as she held up Skylar’s chin to look at her. “Mentors have very special abilities to sense truth. Leannz says it is due to our ability to pick up on electrical currents that indicate if someone is lying. If you make any attempt to deceive me about your sorrow and repentance, then I will be forced to continue your punishment until either my arm grows tired or your bottom falls off.”

Skylar groaned, remembering that she had read that statement in one of her books.
Damn it, Breanna! One day I am going to find a way to let your husband know exactly what kind of trouble you caused me! I bet John wouldn’t think twice before blistering your ass!
And to think I used to love erotica!

“I’m sorry, Aunt Leeza,” Skylar said sincerely.

The old woman looked into her eyes and nodded. “I believe you, dear. Go into that cabinet and you will find several instruments that we use for drawing and measuring. Choose one of those items and bring it to me.”

Skylar did not like the sound of where things were going. She pressed the button, opening the cabinet door and staring at the shelf filled with rulers and design boards. The frightening thing was that the smallest of these was ¼-inch thick and made of clear plastic that measured a good twenty inches in length and three inches in width. Skylar’s lip trembled.

“Aunt Leeza, these things will seriously hurt me.”

“They will teach you the lesson that your daddy and I wish you to learn. Bend over the seat of that chair, Skylar. Put your head and shoulders through the back section.”

“Please…”

“Do you wish me to remove your uniform for the application of the ruler?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Then obey my instructions.”

Skylar suspected that being grateful that she was allowed clothing was short-lived. Leeza’s inexperience with the art of spanking was quickly forgotten as she cracked the implement straight across Skylar’s sit spots. Skylar cried out, dancing on her toes. She was unable to move from her position, for Leeza’s strong hand was centered squarely in the middle of her spine, and the back seat of the chair acted like a makeshift stockade.

Leeza swung the ruler again, the flat of the heavy plastic board plummeting across the rounds of Skylar’s cheeks. Skylar burst into tears as the heat zoomed out from the point of impact. She begged for mercy as a third stroke met the back of her thighs, and Skylar felt her legs crumble beneath her.

Leeza tsked as she pulled Skylar off the floor and laid her across her soft lap.

“I hope you will not break another rule in my classroom, Skylar,” the woman said as she deftly skimmed the jumpsuit from Skylar’s body, exposing the bright pink Barbie thong and a bottom that was already showing marks from the brief paddling. Leeza’s neatly manicured hand skimmed the panties away from the welted globes, paused briefly, and then resumed what she had started.

Skylar could not escape, no matter how diligently she tried. Leeza’s spanking style was so rapid and sharp that Skylar had no time between swats to absorb what was happening. Her bottom felt as though it was being hailed upon by red-hot coals, each smack impacting upon the next like a drummer would play a snare. She kicked, screamed, and begged, but no relief was given. Leeza was intent on teaching Skylar a valuable lesson through the direction of her backside, and Skylar swore she would never fight again… or swear… or sit!

The pitiful sound of Skylar’s protests filled the large room as Leeza finally drew the punishment to a close. She held the girl in place, gently running her palm over the red, swollen surface of the tiny buttocks.

“Shall we repeat this tomorrow, Skylar?”

“N… no, ma’am,” Skylar sniffled, her limbs shaking from both pain and being held in the awkward position.

“Good. Go stand in the corner and stay there until either your daddy or your papa arrives. Hold this paddle against your bottom while you wait to remind you that Auntie Leeza is very, very disappointed in you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Skylar sniffed miserably, accepting the instrument and dragging herself to the area of the room where a corner stood bare. She placed the cool paddle against her scorched skin and held it in place with both hands, mentally begging—
please let it be Papa who comes for me. Please let it be Papa! I’m just asking for this one little break.

“Where is she?” a voice was heard. Skylar’s heart sank. It was Tralec.

“I have her standing in a corner in my office. I believe she was adequately disciplined for her actions. Perhaps she should only be given extra studies or alone time?”

“Sorry, Leeza, but that bottom is mine. If it isn’t red enough now, it will be when we get home.”

“She belongs to you, this is true. But as a mentor, I do give caution regarding excessive punishment. Our podlings must learn forgiveness as well as self-discipline.”

“When we were podlings, Troy got himself into a scrape with a second level engineering mentor. I intervened because I believed my brother to be correct. I issued a formal reprimand to a mentor.”

“You did not do such a thing!” Leeza sounded horrified.

“I am ashamed to admit that I did. Not only did I meddle in something that was not mine to do so, but I brought embarrassment and shame to both my brother and my teacher. I should have faced discipline, but instead, the head-mentor chose to let me learn to live with my actions. The guilt I felt was sickening, and it took me years to release it. I do not want Skylar to experience such torture. She will be thoroughly disciplined and know that she paid the price of her actions and is forgiven.”

“You make a strong argument,” Leeza said, her tone thoughtful. “Perhaps I am too lenient when it comes to this little human.”

Skylar pressed the paddle to her skin, shivering as she considered what Leeza thought lenient. Her nose still anchored in the corner, Skylar began to plan ways to assure Tralec that she had learned her lesson well.

“Skylar?” Tralec called from the doorway. “Look at me.”

Skylar turned slowly, her face still red from crying and her eyes and nose still puffy. She looked at the floor. “I’m so sorry, Daddy. I screwed up. I knew better. Auntie Leeza showed me that I had better choices and that I elected not to make them. Please forgive me.”

Tralec shook his head, beckoning to her as he sat in a chair. Skylar wobbled over to him, her one-piece suit and panties still pooled at her ankles. He patted his knee and with slight hesitation, Skylar draped herself across it.

“Is this an old measuring ruler?” he asked, taking the paddle from Skylar’s hands and holding it up for Leeza.

“Yes, I have a cabinet full of them. I found it to be very handy in teaching my lesson. You may keep it as my gift,” Leeza said kindly, sitting on the chair’s arm and stroking Skylar’s hair. “Her bottom is quite delicate. I struck her only three times with the instrument for fear I would break her.”

“She is able to endure more than one would believe. See? Her marks are already starting to fade, as is the redness.”

Skylar groaned. Her situation looked rather bleak at the moment, especially if Tralec determined her punishment to be measured by the number of bruises on her ass.

“Young lady, do you feel you have been adequately punished for your behavior today?” Tralec asked firmly, his hand resting possessively across her bare bottom. “I remind you that Leeza is capable of determining if your answer is truthful.”

Skylar began to cry again, shaking her head. She felt terrible for how she treated the podling and the embarrassment she was causing Tralec and Troy in front of their old friend. “No, Daddy. I’m so sorry!”

“I appreciate the honesty,” Tralec said gently. “You are grounded to your room for the next two weeks. When Papa comes home tonight, he and I will discuss if further discipline is warranted.”

“Y…yes, sir,” Skylar whispered. Grounding meant silence and separation. She dreaded it even more than
any additional spankings she might receive.

Tralec stood her up and began redressing her, a grim look set on his handsome face. “I am so disappointed in you. You have brought shame to our house.”

His words fell like boulders on her heart. “I’m disappointed in me, too, Daddy. I’m sorry.”

* * *

Skylar was sent straight to bed after the meal that evening so that the men could discuss her fate. Troy had barely uttered two words to her after being informed of the day’s events, and Tralec continued to shake his head each time he looked in her direction. She began to understand the reason this society used separation to punish. She felt empty without her new family around her. Her restriction had begun.

Four days passed without either man visiting her. Her meals were taken alone in her room, and her only companion was her stuffed teddy and a computer that made no secret of hating her.

“Effy? How can I get them to forgive me? I know you dislike my presence here, but I need some advice. I can’t stand it that they won’t talk to me. I feel so unwanted.”

“Human manuals suggest that leaving the environment will initiate a protective response to the pod. This action will produce a requirement to recover you and return you to the family unit.”

“Run away? Won’t that make them angrier? They will think I betrayed them again. I don’t want to make things worse. They will worry and be hurt. I don’t like hurting them. I just want them to forgive me and love me again.”

“The human’s owners know that no harm will befall you in this society, and they will be reminded as to your value.”

Skylar considered the biodrone’s words. They made sense. “How can I get out of here?”

“Emergency routes are accessed through the external viewing system.”

Skylar eyed the window. It was a long way down. Rungs were built into the side of the building, but the distance between them were almost as far apart as she was tall. “I am too small for that route. Any other ideas?”

“The human will be notified once the owners are in full rest. It can then leave as it pleases.”

“Okay, thanks. You’re right.” Skylar curled in a chair, anger brewing. “Maybe if they remember what life was like without me, they won’t lock me out of their sight and pretend I don’t exist. Any ideas as to where I can go?”

“There are areas of safety in the reserve outside of this community.”

“What about wild animals?”

“There has been no documentation of sightings in several seasons. This unit determines the area to be safe for human inhabitation.”

“I’ve always liked camping…” Skylar considered, making up her mind.

She found it extraordinarily easy to slip out of the apartment and find her way down to the lobby with Effy’s assistance. When she walked outside and was struck full force by the blazing sun, she quickly tossed the large, floppy head covering over her and adjusted the bag that she carried on her shoulder. She had taken a synthesizing unit with her, knowing she could produce the basics of what she would need while gone, and several bottles of drinking fluids. Skylar paused, gathering her bearings, and then started in the direction of the Calipi forest.

She dodged the harsh sunlight as much as possible as she walked, finding little areas of shade and shelter to walk under. Trees surrounded by white railing lined the walkways. They hovered over her, blocking the majority of the blistering rays as she walked briskly toward the dark, cool forestlands. She passed several Calipians, assumedly ones who worked ‘night shift’ and was grateful that she was not engaged in discussion beyond a pleasant greeting.

Oddly enough, the farther away she got from the men, the emptier her heart felt. Her anger, roused by the biodrone, was slowly being replaced by loneliness and regret. Her stomach twisted in a knot when she realized that she had broken her promise never to leave them and that her running away would definitely be seen as a betrayal of their trust.

Her remorse was then replaced by animosity as she recalled the computer’s manipulation. Standing at the forest’s edge, she contemplated her return as she reached down to rub her sore feet. She was exhausted, and the sun was starting to set. Deciding to rest for a while, she sought refuge in a hollowed tree trunk and closed her eyes. Several hours later, she was jarred awake as she felt movement around her.

“What the f…?” she said, sticking her head outside. The land was shifting and moving rapidly as the vegetation migrated in search of ideal nutrient and light sources. Skylar clung to the edges of the blue bark and watched as she was taken farther and farther into the depths of the dark forest.